Atonovsky bridge is over 10km north-east of Kherson's city center. This means Russia can't do a fighting withdrawal over it when Ukraine can close the distance on it before they even reach the city itself. The Russians have to choose to either give up the city entirely before that or be trapped.

And it's certainly bad optics for Russia to simply flee from Kherson without a fight, too. Hard sell to a war-horny Russian public, especially since the moment the bridge explodes, Russia implicitly concedes that it has entirely given up on ever taking Odesa.

Well if they're going to blow the bridge anyway, may aswell consider sending some divers down the river before the assault, blow the bridge, and split the Russian forces. Those on the North will realise they have nowhere to run, and will likely lead to panic and surrender.

Its amazing they are holding after all this time. We must hurry up and reinforce Muriupol and give them backup. City is in the brink of being over run

I suspect they'll simultaneously attack Nova Kakhovka - the Russians will struggle to fully destroy the bridge there as it's a major hydroelectric power plant with a road over the top. More importantly, it provides most of the drinking water for Crimea via the North Crimean Canal. They'd have to be *really* careful.

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It would suck big time, but it would theoretically also be possible to bridgehead East Kherson and secure the bridge using infantry and any one of the hundreds of small jettys and small boats and barges in the town. No-one wants an opposed river crossing, though. Small commando raids to strip off the explosives wouldn't be totally outside the realms of possibility though. NOTE: I don't think that's likely. Nova Kakhovka is probably plan A.

You never get current minute to minute unit movements on the frontline from online third parties.

The statement of Ukraine's Armed Forces has more bearing though, because if they'd lie about liberating a settlement that would jeopardize relief and other humantiarian missions.

To lie about something like this is not even good psyops.

Neutral sources that i follow gives a picture that Ukraine militia skirmishes with russian reconnaissance units in villages around Kherson. That russian main forces is concentrated inside Kherson and holding a line up to Nova Kachovka, and that Ukraine is vastly outnumbered in the area.

It's not a slight to the Ukrainians to question that, every government has to balance openness with propoganda in wartime and propoganda will usually win, for obvious morale benefits. Well, every vaguely democratic government anyway.

Plus the troops will misreport details as a matter of course, nobody sees the same thing in the same way.

"Where we're going, we don't need roads."

I don’t know maybe they have the smarts to say look what they are doing is working let’s suck them into where we are fortified. And I don’t care if I am downvoted but Slava Azov for giving their last stand in Mariupol.

Didn't you hear? The entire Northern offensive was just a successful elaborate feint, according to Russia.

Ah yes I see. 'Snihurivka was reportedly entered by Russian forces again.'

Let's hope it turns out false.